Wednesday, October 14, 2026
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Quiet strength at the top: Dan Perea takes the helm as San Mateo County Sheriff amid turmoil

Former Sheriff Christina Corpus and acting Sheriff Dan Perea. /YouTube video -- Ex alguacil Christina Corpus y alguacil interino Dan Perea.

After the county’s first Latina sheriff is ousted, a Latino veteran steps in to restore order

by the El Reportero‘s staff

When Dan Perea stepped into the leadership role of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office following the removal of Christina Corpus, it marked a pivotal moment for one of the Bay Area’s most scrutinized law enforcement agencies. Perea, a respected veteran of regional policing, is known not for showmanship but for discipline, structure, and quiet competence — qualities that could prove critical as the department faces one of its most turbulent transitions in recent memory.

A 34-year law enforcement professional, Perea began his career in 1991 with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), where he steadily rose through the ranks. As commanding officer of the Mission District Station — one of the city’s busiest precincts — he earned praise for improving officer morale and strengthening neighborhood ties. Later, as Deputy Chief (second in command) at SFPD, he oversaw operations, training, and organizational reforms. Those years gave him a broad view of how to manage a large agency — from street-level realities to executive oversight.

In July 2024, Perea joined the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office as Undersheriff, the department’s second-highest post. His appointment came just over a year after Corpus took office as the county’s first female and first Latina sheriff. But by October 2025, her tenure had unraveled amid allegations of misconduct and abuse of power. On October 14, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to remove her, effective immediately, under Government Code Section 24105. Perea automatically assumed command as acting sheriff.

“The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office wishes to assure our communities that public-safety service remains constant and uninterrupted,” Perea said shortly after taking the reins. “Our incredible Deputies, Correctional Officers, and Professional Staff are committed to keeping our communities safe.”

Those remarks reflected both his style and priorities: continuity, morale, and public trust.

A Department in Transition

Corpus’ removal followed a two-week hearing and investigation that found multiple violations of county and state law. According to court documents, retired Superior Court Judge James Emerson determined that Corpus violated conflict-of-interest rules, retaliated against a deputy union president and a captain, and ordered an arrest without probable cause.

Her attempt to block the process through a court petition was denied last week by Judge Nina Shapirshteyn, who ruled that maintaining the removal order “serves the public interest in accountable and stable law enforcement leadership.”

“The judge’s decision confirms the process was fair, transparent and followed as voters intended,” said Supervisor Ray Mueller, who has led calls to restore stability.

With the legal path now cleared, the Board of Supervisors has begun selecting a new sheriff. The county charter requires either an appointment or special election by November 13, 2025.

The Appointment Process

In a special session Tuesday night, the Board voted 3–2 to instruct county staff to develop a transparent, community-based appointment process emphasizing accountability and trust. Vice President Noelia Corzo joined Supervisors Mueller and Lisa Gauthier in favor, while Board President David Canepa and Jackie Speier dissented, favoring an election.

The Board called for clear procedures, including public forums, candidate interviews, and supplemental questions to gauge leadership style, priorities, and strategies for restoring confidence. Applicants must live in San Mateo County and hold a valid POST certificate, as required by California law.

County staff are expected to launch a multilingual website outlining qualifications, the application timeline, and opportunities for public comment. The Board also plans to host a candidate forum and a public meeting to interview finalists.

“The community deserves a transparent process that reflects our values and restores trust,” said Supervisor Corzo.

Perea’s Path Forward

While the Board determines whether to appoint a new sheriff or call an election, Perea continues to serve as acting sheriff. His leadership has provided a sense of calm and structure after months of turmoil.

Colleagues describe him as a patient listener and detail-oriented administrator with a strong commitment to mentorship. His supporters believe those qualities could rebuild morale and improve training standards.

“Dan’s leadership brings balance and focus,” said one senior deputy who worked with him at SFPD. “He understands both the operational and human sides of this job.”

Should Perea be appointed or later run for election, he would be among the few Latinos ever to lead a major Bay Area law enforcement agency — notably in San Mateo County, now with a Latino majority population. For many residents, that symbolizes both representation and responsibility.

For now, his focus remains on stabilizing the department. His immediate priorities include ensuring smooth operations, strengthening communication with community organizations, and reaffirming professional standards among the ranks.

A Quiet but Steady Hand

Perea’s approach is not one of fanfare but of methodical rebuilding. In a department facing public skepticism, leadership fatigue, and morale challenges, his steadiness may be exactly what is needed.

As one county staffer put it, “He’s not the kind of leader who makes headlines — he’s the kind who fixes what’s broken.”

With the court’s decision affirming the board’s authority and the appointment process underway, San Mateo County appears ready to turn a page. Whether Perea remains in the top role or hands it off to a new appointee, his presence has already helped steady the ship.

In times of disruption, quiet leadership often makes the loudest difference — and in San Mateo County, Dan Perea’s quiet strength may be just what the moment demands.

– With news reports.

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Every home has someone who has passed

by Marvin Ramírez

As October draws to a close, San Francisco comes alive with altars in cultural and art spaces, where people create small shrines in memory of loved ones. Some neighborhoods host processions, and special places like El Corazón del Pueblo in Oakland offer handmade crafts while honoring the deceased. This tradition stretches from Mexico to Nicaragua and across Central America—the Day of the Dead.

Here in San Francisco, on October 31, we stand at the threshold of this sacred holiday. It is a time to remember those who have passed, to reflect, and to celebrate lives that shaped ours. For me, it is a moment to honor the woman who raised me—Doña Juana Calero Espinoza, the mother of my father, José Santos Ramírez Calero, a journalist known for his integrity. I also think of my father, resting here in Colma. For all who have lost someone, this is a time to pause, offer a moment of silence, a prayer, a reflection.

In the Hispanic world, the Day of the Dead binds us together. Language, culture, and heritage connect us, reminding us that our histories shape who we are. Just as Spanish unites us across generations, remembering those who have passed reminds us that our roots and traditions give depth and meaning to our lives.

This holiday also celebrates resilience. Even in loss, we honor the lives of those who shaped us by carrying forward their values. My father devoted himself to journalism with truth and ethics, principles that continue to inspire me. The lessons we inherit from those before us inform our actions, priorities, and our communities.

Day of the Dead traditions—altars, stories, offerings—remind us that grief and celebration coexist. Families connect, stories are passed down, and children learn about ancestors and their sacrifices. The ritual of remembrance, whether in San Francisco, Mexico City, or Managua, is a unifying practice that transcends distance and time.

As we observe these traditions, we are also reminded of our lives in the United States. Many of us carry the weight of striving for the American dream while honoring those who paved the way. The Day of the Dead integrates personal and collective histories with our pursuit of stability, health, and progress. It is a moment to reflect on past sacrifices and to strengthen communities.

This observance invites empathy. Remembering the dead cultivates compassion for those grieving, recognizing that loss is universal. It encourages support, values relationships, and highlights the fragility and beauty of life. In remembering our loved ones, we affirm bonds that tie us as neighbors, friends, and community members.

Every home has someone who has passed. Families carry stories, memories, and lessons that deserve recognition. The Day of the Dead celebrates these lives, acknowledging the influence of those we have loved and lost. It is a moment to pause, reflect, and give thanks for our shared heritage and for the opportunity to build our lives with purpose.

These traditions remind us that while death separates us physically, memory and love maintain connections across time. They teach us to honor the past, cherish the present, and approach the future with gratitude and hope. As families across the Bay Area set up altars, light candles, and share stories, they are commemorating the dead and nurturing a living culture that inspires, connects, and strengthens us all.

In every home, in every heart, those who came before us continue to shape the lives we lead today. This October, as we enter the Day of the Dead, let us remember, celebrate, and honor those lives, ensuring their legacies endure and guide us forward.

 

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The 17th San Francisco latino film festival kicks off

by Magdy Zara

The Latino film festival in San Francisco kicked off on October 23rd. This year, 54 films from 12 countries will be screened over 12 days.

During these days, both Latin American and American independent films will be showcased, with emerging artists and established masters.

The festival will be held in several venues, with screenings spread across several spaces, including the Roxie Theatre, Artists’ Television Access, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA), Apple Cinemas, and the Ninth Street Independent Film Center.

For this Saturday, October 25th, the lineup is as follows: Amantes en el cielo (Amors in the Sky), at 1 p.m., at the Roxie Theatre; and the short films: Barrio (Neighborhood), Vida Útil (Useful Life), Resonancia (Resonance), Tendencias (Tendencias), Cuatro Ojos (Four Eyes), and El luto de (The Mourning of); they can be seen through Artists’ Television Access at 2 p.m.

This 17th Latino Film Festival began on October 23rd and runs through November 6th.

Palo Alto Commemorates the Day of the Dead

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience an unforgettable day filled with artistic activities for children, vibrant colors, traditional music, delicious food, and captivating performances during the Day of the Dead celebration at Bloomhouse.

Experience the richness of Mexican culture and traditions while we joyfully honor our ancestors in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere, where you can make your offerings.

The event is this Saturday, October 25th, starting at 1 PM, at Bloomhouse, 2555 Pulgas Avenue, East Palo Alto. Admission is completely free.

 

5K for Fair Trade

The Fair Trade 5K is part of an ongoing campaign to urge Congress to revise the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to strengthen labor protections, especially workers’ right to organize a union.

You can join the group and rally behind NO Exploitation, labor rights for all, including human rights, independence from poverty, and fair trade.

Living Wage is a grassroots movement of low-wage workers and their allies fighting for economic justice.

You are invited to walk or run for fair trade, and the race will conclude with a barbecue, speakers, and yoga.

This event will take place on November 15th, starting at 1 PM, at Lake Merced in San Francisco. It will begin in the parking lot at Sunset and Lake Merced Blvd and end in Harding Park on Skyline Blvd.

For more information, contact the San Francisco Living Wage Coalition at (415) 863-1225 or sflivingwage@riseup.net

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Nonprofits step in as schools struggle to hire arts teachers despite Prop. 28 funds

Community nonprofits such as P.S. ARTS train working artists to provide programming in K-12 public schools in California. (Elaine Lee/P.S. ARTS) -- Organizaciones comunitarias sin fines de lucro como P.S. ARTS capacitan a artistas en activo para ofrecer programas en escuelas públicas de K-12 en California.

by Suzanne Potter

California News Services

The ongoing teacher shortage continues to affect California schools, particularly in the arts, where many districts are struggling to hire qualified instructors even though new state funding is available through Proposition 28. As a result, community-based nonprofits are stepping in to ensure students still have access to arts education.

Approved by voters in 2022, Proposition 28 dedicates roughly $1 billion annually to arts and music education across the state, with the goal of hiring more teachers in dance, media arts, music, theater, and visual arts. Schools can also allocate up to 20% of those funds to supplemental programs provided by community arts organizations.

Elda Pineda, deputy director of the nonprofit P.S. ARTS—which currently serves more than 33,000 students at 102 schools throughout southern and central California—said the funding is crucial but noted that the lack of credentialed arts teachers remains a serious challenge.

“Not having the amount of credentialed teachers needed to take these jobs is an obstacle,” Pineda explained. “But there are ways to think outside of the box in order to get teachers into the schools so kids can get arts programming right away.”

To bridge the gap, schools may apply for waivers if they cannot find a credentialed arts teacher. Organizations like P.S. ARTS train working artists—many of them professionals in their fields—to deliver in-class instruction during the school day or to lead after-school arts programs. The nonprofit also uses grants and partnerships to help subsidize these services in under-resourced districts, ensuring equitable access for all students.

Gilda Davidian, associate director of communications for P.S. ARTS, emphasized that in-person arts education plays an essential role in combating the social isolation many students experience today.

“It’s not just training in drawing or theater,” Davidian said. “This is about learning through all kinds of creative processes, connecting with others, and developing the confidence to express yourself.”

As California works to rebuild its arts education workforce, community partnerships like these are proving vital to keeping creativity alive in classrooms across the state.

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New California law expands internet freedom for renters

Monkeybrains, the local internet provider, the great beneficiary

by El Reportero Staff

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1414, giving California renters the right to choose their own internet provider — a move expected to help thousands of San Francisco residents stuck with costly, landlord-controlled internet plans.

Starting January 1, 2026, landlords will no longer be able to force tenants to pay for “bulk billing” internet services bundled into leases. Tenants who don’t want those subscriptions can opt out and, if charged anyway, are legally allowed to deduct the amount from their rent.

“This is about freedom of choice and fair competition,” said Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy), who authored the bill. “For too long, renters have paid for services they didn’t choose, often at higher prices.”

San Francisco-based internet provider Monkeybrains, which helped advocate for the bill, praised the new law. “This will liberate renters and promote competition,” said company spokesperson Alex Menendez. “Tenants should decide who connects them — not their landlords.”

Local renters say the law could mean better service and lower costs. “It’s not fair to be forced to pay for slow, unreliable Wi-Fi,” said Maria Ortiz, a Mission District tenant.

Here at El Reportero, we’ve been with Monkeybrains for nearly two decades, and the difference is clear. “They don’t play pricing games,” said El Reportero publisher Marvin Ramírez. “While other providers raise rates after six or twelve months, we’ve paid the same $35 a month since the start.”

Monkeybrains plans to offer free information sessions for tenants and property managers to explain their new rights and how to access fair, independent internet options.

With AB 1414 now law, San Franciscans will soon enjoy true internet freedom — the right to connect on their own terms.

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Immigrant resistance movement forged in California prisons persists decades later

Detainees at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego on May 18, 2018. Photo by Lucy Nicholson, Reuters - via CalMatters

This story is part of California Voices, a commentary forum aiming to broaden our understanding of the state and spotlight Californians directly impacted by policy or its absence

by Jessica Ordaz

October 16, 2025 – I keep thinking about José René Flores, a Los Angeles resident incarcerated at a Southern California migrant detention facility in the 1980s. The El Centro Immigration Detention Facility, where immigration agents sent Flores, has a long and deep history of brutality.

But Flores’ story is not just one of violence and violation. It is also a story of protest and solidarity — reflective of a larger lineage of resistance from inside detention, including the people the Trump administration is currently working to silence and disappear. They’ve risked their “rightless” lives with the hope that the world might learn about the inhumane conditions behind detention walls, and that they might be free.

Flores migrated to the United States from El Salvador in 1980, after being attacked by members of his homeland’s National Guard, a paramilitary organization known for committing atrocities during the Salvadoran Civil War. As a teenager, he was targeted for his involvement in a factory trade union and for participating in the revolutionary organization Frente de Acción Popular Unificada.

“There was terrible repression in El Salvador,” Flores told me when I interviewed him several years ago. “I was criminalized for having long hair and black glasses. Just looking different and being young meant you were a criminal, marijuanero, guerillero and a drug addict.”

When Flores arrived in Los Angeles, he was apprehended by Immigration and Naturalization Service officials, who transported him to El Centro, because he chose to apply for political asylum. The detention center, located in California’s Imperial Valley, was built to incarcerate unauthorized Mexican men and those convicted of deportable crimes in 1945. By the time Flores got there, it had evolved from a small camp into a large-scale facility with a deep history of labor exploitation, physical abuse and surveillance.

INS officials forced Flores and his fellow detained migrants to work as low-paid and sometimes unpaid laborers, limited their access to low-nutrient food and medical care, and oversaw a climate of physical and psychological intimidation.

Flores and a few other Salvadoran migrants decided to fight back. All of us felt the same, said Flores: “Offended. Mistreated. We wanted to tell each other not to be sad. That we were all in this together.”

In 1981, they began a 15-day hunger strike. Their refusal to eat and the use of their bodies to protest called out the violence of the state, making the public aware of the punitive nature of detention.

Due to the protest and the efforts of the immigrant aid group Concilio Manzo, the INS released Flores from the facility that same year.

Soon after, in 1985, a much larger hunger strike at El Centro made international news. Fifteen migrants from around the world organized an eight-day hunger strike. Between 175 and 300 incarcerated men participated, demanding that their grievances be heard.

While official INS accounts asserted that the detention center functioned simply as an administrative holding site where people waited for their deportation hearings, the stories the strikers shared with lawyers and the media framed the detention center as a site of punishment.

The protestors also publicized an important factor missing from the INS narrative: why many Central Americans had migrated to the U.S. in the first place. A number of the protestors came because they had been persecuted in their home countries for fighting back against repressive Latin American regimes funded by U.S. tax dollars.

The 1985 strike resulted in further repression from INS officers. But it also helped shift the narrative around detention in the public eye, even as the U.S. continued to incarcerate immigrants and asylum seekers at sites such as the Krome Service Processing Center in Florida, the Port Isabel Detention Center in Texas, and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Acts of protest from people behind detention walls have never stopped. In the coming decades, migrants have demanded that lawyers and immigrant rights organizations hear and document their stories, filed class action lawsuits, and staged acts of defiance, like refusing to eat or work to challenge the cruelty of the state.

Dissent continues under “Trump’s Reign of Terror.” At the end of September, for instance, 19 incarcerated migrants commenced a hunger strike inside Louisiana’s Angola prison, Camp J, calling for basic standards of care, such as prescription medication, toilet paper and clean water.

Such acts of resistance and refusal from the inside show that, despite carceral efforts to control, isolate, and strip migrants of their humanity, people will continue to find ways to fight back.

This commentary was adapted from an essay produced for Zócalo Public Square.

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Citizenship should welcome, not intimidate

Immigrants take the oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony in September in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Drew Angerer / Getty Images) -- Inmigrantes prestan el juramento de lealtad durante una ceremonia de naturalización en septiembre en Jersey City, Nueva Jersey.
Marvin Ramírez, editor

by Marvin Ramírez

For decades, the United States has been a beacon for millions who dreamed of becoming citizens, not just residents. The promise of belonging to a nation built on freedom, democracy, and equality inspired countless immigrants to learn English, study civics, and contribute to their communities. But now, that dream is becoming harder to reach. The government’s new 2025 Naturalization Civics Test adds new layers of difficulty and suspicion, transforming what should be an empowering process into a stressful test of distrust.

In the past, the citizenship test was challenging but fair. Applicants had to study a list of civics questions, learn about the Constitution, and understand how the government works. For many, it was an emotional journey—an act of gratitude and commitment to the United States. But today, with the new set of rules and questions, the process feels less like an invitation to belong and more like an interrogation. The test implies that applicants might have double intentions or hidden motives for wanting to become Americans.

This change is not only unfair—it’s un-American. The foundation of this country was built by immigrants, and every generation has renewed that promise. To suggest that those seeking citizenship must now prove they are trustworthy enough to deserve it is to deny the very spirit of inclusion that defines the nation. People already felt anxious about passing a test in a second language. Now they are being asked questions that go beyond knowledge—questions that reflect a growing mistrust between the government and the people who wish to join it.

Experts have warned that these new measures could make passage more difficult, especially since the government has reduced funding for English and civics education. This means that many hard-working immigrants—who pay taxes, raise families, and contribute to the economy—will face an even greater barrier. The test’s complexity, combined with moral character assessments and neighborhood checks, sends a troubling message: that not everyone who wants to become an American deserves to.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has described these changes as necessary to ensure that only those who “fully embrace American values” can naturalize. But what does that really mean? For generations, immigrants have demonstrated those values through action—by working hard, obeying the law, and enriching the cultural and economic life of this country. A fair test should measure knowledge of civics, not moral worth or political alignment.

Behind the new test lies a deeper issue: the erosion of trust. When officials suggest that applicants may not have “good intentions,” they are questioning the integrity of millions of lawful residents who already live, work, and serve under U.S. laws. This undermines confidence in the system and fosters fear, especially among green card holders who worry that one mistake could lead to losing their path to citizenship—or even deportation.

Those who seek citizenship should not be blamed or distrusted from the beginning. They should be encouraged, protected, and respected. The United States needs immigrants who believe in this country and want to participate fully in its future. Making the process harder only discourages people from taking that final step, leaving them in a permanent state of insecurity.

Becoming a citizen should mean gaining protection, not exposure to new risks. It should mean being able to live without fear of expulsion, to vote, to serve on juries, and to claim a place in the American story. Every oath of allegiance taken by a new citizen strengthens this nation’s foundation. When the government creates obstacles that make immigrants feel unwelcome, it weakens that bond.

America’s greatness has always come from its ability to include, not exclude. If the government truly wants to ensure that new citizens “embrace American values,” then it should begin by practicing them—fairness, compassion, and opportunity. The path to citizenship should not be a test of fear, but a celebration of belonging. Immigrants are not the problem. They are the promise that keeps America alive.

 

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Judge says ICE officers can face arrest for unlawful courthouse detentions

photo: credit Juris News.

by the El Reportero’s wire services

A federal judge in the Chicago area has ruled that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents can be detained if they violate his order and arrest a migrant without a valid warrant at any Cook County courthouse.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings issued a ruling prohibiting ICE officers from taking migrants into custody at courthouses unless they have a warrant. He further declared that federal officers may themselves be arrested if they disregard this directive.

The decision seeks to curb what are known as “collateral arrests” — detentions of undocumented individuals discovered incidentally while ICE agents pursue someone they are officially authorized to arrest.

Cummings emphasized that courthouses must remain spaces of security and impartiality.
“The fair administration of justice requires that courts remain open and accessible, and that litigants and witnesses may appear without fear of civil arrest,” he wrote.

The ruling referenced recent instances in which ICE agents reportedly detained individuals outside Cook County courthouses, including cases involving “collateral” migrants taken into custody without warrants.

“One thing seems clear: ICE rousted American citizens from their apartments during the middle of the night and detained them — in zip ties no less — for far longer than the ‘brief’ period authorized by the operative regulation,” Cummings wrote.

In response, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said it plans to “comply with all lawful court orders and is addressing this matter with the court.”

Still, DHS defended its right to detain undocumented individuals found during enforcement operations.

“We aren’t some medieval kingdom; there are no legal sanctuaries where you can hide and avoid the consequences for breaking the law,” the agency said in a statement to WBBM-TV. “Nothing in the Constitution prohibits arresting a lawbreaker where you find them.”

 

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Common vitamin could cut your skin cancer risk in half, large-scale study confirms

by Cassie B.

  • A large VA study confirms nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, reduces skin cancer risk.
  • The research found a 14 percent overall decrease in nonmelanoma skin cancer risk from taking the supplement.
  • Starting the vitamin after a first diagnosis slashed the risk of subsequent cancers by 54 percent.
  • This affordable supplement could significantly reduce the need for surgeries and healthcare costs.
  • The findings suggest a major shift toward early, proactive prevention is now possible.

You have been told your entire life that protecting your skin from cancer requires expensive creams, painful procedures, and constant vigilance. But what if a simple, affordable, and safe vitamin sitting on your local pharmacy shelf could dramatically reduce your risk? Groundbreaking new research involving tens of thousands of patients confirms that a specific form of nutrition offers a powerful, natural defense against the most common cancers in the world. This is not a speculative theory from the fringe; it is a data-driven conclusion from one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States, finally validating what natural health advocates have long suggested.

A massive retrospective study of 33,833 veterans, conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), has delivered compelling evidence that nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, is a potent weapon against nonmelanoma skin cancer. The research, co-authored by Dr. Lee Wheless of the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System and Vanderbilt University, leveraged the VA’s vast data warehouse to track patients who were prescribed 500 milligrams of nicotinamide twice daily. This approach provided a real-world look at the supplement’s effectiveness on a scale previously unseen.

The findings are a resounding confirmation of nature’s power. The analysis revealed a 14 percent overall decrease in skin cancer risk among those taking the vitamin. This is a significant result on its own, demonstrating that a simple nutritional intervention can have a measurable impact on public health. For a nation grappling with soaring healthcare costs and a cancer industry that often prioritizes expensive treatments over affordable prevention, this study offers significant hope.

The power of early intervention

The most stunning data emerged when researchers examined the timing of the intervention. The protective benefit of nicotinamide skyrocketed when patients began taking it promptly after their first skin cancer diagnosis. In these individuals, the risk reduction for developing a subsequent skin cancer jumped to an astounding 54 percent. This halving of risk from a low-cost vitamin underscores a critical principle of authentic healthcare: early, proactive prevention is infinitely more effective and humane than late-stage treatment.

This benefit, however, diminished when treatment began after multiple skin cancers had already developed. This key detail points toward a crucial window of opportunity where the body’s natural defenses can be most effectively bolstered. It suggests that incorporating this nutritional strategy early in a patient’s journey could fundamentally shift cancer prevention protocols from reactive to proactive.

The study focused on the two most common types of nonmelanoma skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers affect millions of Americans each year, placing a massive burden on the healthcare system. Dr. Wheless highlighted the practical impact, stating, “We have patients that can get over 100 skin cancers and that’s a lot of individual cancers to be treating, a lot of surgeries, and a lot of time healing from all.” He added, “If we can reduce the rate of skin cancers by 50 percent, if a patient normally is getting, say 10 skin cancers per year…That’s five fewer surgeries and a major impact on that patient’s life.”

A paradigm shift in prevention

The implications of this study are profound for clinical practice. Dr. Wheless noted, “There are no guidelines for when to start treatment with nicotinamide for skin cancer prevention in the general population. These results would really shift our practice from starting it once patients have developed numerous skin cancers to starting it earlier.” This represents a potential paradigm shift, moving away from waiting for disease to proliferate and toward empowering patients with preventive tools at the first sign of trouble.

The economic implications are equally powerful. The VA noted that treating skin cancers is one of the highest costs for community care referrals in dermatology. An affordable supplement that can cut the need for surgeries in half is not just a medical victory; it is a direct challenge to a system that profits from chronic disease. As Associate Chief of Staff of Research and Development Dr. Stokes Peebles stated, “There are very few interventions which can reduce the risk of recurrent cancer by such a large percentage.”

As Dr. Wheless and his team look ahead, they aim to refine this approach through precision medicine, seeking to identify which patients will benefit most. For anyone concerned about skin cancer, this research offers a clear, accessible, and empowering message: the power to dramatically reduce your risk may already be within your reach. Food.news.

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Cal State workers are getting a one-time bonus, paid for by a $144 million loan due next year

Students walk across the Cal State San Marcos campus on May 6, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters-- Estudiantes caminan por el campus de Cal State San Marcos el 6 de mayo de 2025.

The $144 million loan will be used to pay for one-time bonuses for faculty and staff

by Mikhail Zinshteyn

CalMatters

The California State University system will seek a state loan of $144 million that it’ll have a year to repay at no interest, even though current projections show the system will have to add to its deficit to repay the debt.

Cal State’s chief financial officer says the loan will be used to offer one-year bonuses to faculty and staff. While salaries vary widely across the system, the extra $144 million is roughly a 3 percent increase in the total pay for Cal State’s workers, including executives. State law says the loan needs to be repaid by next July.

Despite months of hesitation, the system today took the first step to request the loan and will likely get the money in 60 days or less, said Cal State’s interim chief financial officer, Patrick Lenz, in an interview. The process involves approval from state lawmakers, who are likely to support the move.

State lawmakers made the loan available to Cal State after they cut state funding to the system by $144 million this year. Cal State has 22 campuses and enrolls 460,000 students.

The system’s largest union, the California Faculty Association of 29,000 workers, is cheering this decision but says more work is needed to bring back lecturers whose contracts were cancelled as many campuses contend with shrinking budgets. The union’s collective bargaining agreement is expiring but negotiators from the union and Cal State leadership haven’t met since April.

“We will take this as a win, but we have so much work to do, and I do hope that this provides an opening for the management to come to the table with us and negotiate fairly,” said Elaine Bernal, a lecturer at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Cal State Long Beach and senior member of the faculty association.

“The one-time investment, great, but we really got to focus on long-term investment,” Bernal said.

The Legislature intends to increase state spending for Cal State in 2026-27 by just $101 million — far lower than previous promises from Gov. Gavin Newsom of about $250 million — so the system will effectively be $43 million short once it repays the loan, Lenz said. The decision to take the loan came “after careful deliberation, conversations with the chancellor, conversations with our Board of Trustees,” Lenz said.

Money is chronically tight at CSU. Since 2023 the system has battled ongoing deficits that have led to hundreds of degree and course cuts, fewer lecturers and hiring freezes. Back then, the system said it was spending $1.5 billion less than it should to adequately educate its students.

Over the past two years that figure has grown by several hundred million dollars as costs rise for campus utilities, insurance, health benefits and more. The deficits exist even as the system in 2024 began increasing tuition annually; the added costs outweigh the new revenue from charging students more. However, most students don’t pay tuition because of state and system financial aid.

Despite those fiscal pressures and likely new expenses to replace the Trump administration’s cuts to federal education grants, Lenz said system leaders want to spend the money on workers.

Unions wanted loan

The zero-interest loan has been the source of intrigue and scrutiny since July as unions representing Cal State workers have been pressuring the system to agree to borrow the money so campuses can offer pay increases for workers. Unions and some lawmakers argued that the the system was fully funded because the state budget gave CSU the option to borrow the loan, which should trigger collective bargaining contract language that stipulated that ongoing raises would kick in if the system received an increase in state funding.

But Cal State officials say that even if they take the loan, it’s not new or ongoing funding — it’s money they’d have to repay after a year — so the system isn’t obligated to increase wages like those contracts dictate.

Lenz reiterated that point during an interview, even after indicating the system will take out the loan.

“Clearly, anything that is one time is not ongoing,” he said of the loan. So any raise “would be only for the 12 months of the budget year.” But maybe the state will send more cash to the system than what lawmakers and Newsom signaled in the annual budget deal they solidified in June, Lenz said. He also suggested that CSU could negotiate more time to repay the loan.

“There’s a long way to go in this process, and there’s a lot of unknowns,” he said.

The loan is “an unusual financial strategy”, said Robert Kelchen, a professor of higher education budgets and finance at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Asked if this could be a model for other states, Kelchen said it might be for “other blue states that are heavily unionized” and are trying to secure labor peace with labor groups.

“That’s really what this feels like,” he said.

 

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